Co-Writing with Beginners
You’re in a co-write, the beginner writing partner wants to throw in a cliché lyric or insists on a chord change that makes your inner producer cringe. The urge to push back, honour your own musical sensibilities, and “rescue” the song can be overwhelming… but is that really the point of the session?
A co-write with a beginner isn’t about producing a masterpiece on the spot. It’s about their growth, building trust, and maybe finding a fresh angle you wouldn’t have thought of.
Don’t Be Precious
You may have decades of musical instincts (which could be a double edged sword), and writing partner may not. That’s okay. If you treat every song like your “legacy piece,” frustration will eat you alive. Instead, think of it as sketching, not sculpting. Even “bad” ideas can spark something better if you follow them for a moment. Maybe it will find a path you would never take because of the deeply set ideas you have about musicality.
Protect Your Sanity
Adopt some mental strategies. Take a breath, remember the bigger picture, remind yourself that not every song has to be “the one.” For your writing partner this could very well be the first song in a long journey of development and self discovery. What did your first output sound like? Was it a masterpiece? Remember that you should be more of a mentor in this situation. Know when to gently guide vs. when to just let it go.
Find the Silver Lining
Beginners often bring unfiltered enthusiasm and unexpected turns. Use this to refocus your own viewpoint about music making. A naive creative decision may turn out to be something you can use to make something truly fresh and unique. Think back to when you started in the industry. Try and recall some of those butterflies and thrills when you heard something you created come to life for the first time. Even if the song isn’t stellar (according to your seasoned ears), you might rediscover some of your own early-career joys.
Working with inexperienced writers doesn’t have to compromise your mental wellbeing. In fact, if you reframe the experience, it can strengthen your resilience, expand your creativity, and remind you why you started making music in the first place.
